10 Destructive Pests—and the Least Destructive Ways to Thwart Them

Getting rid of pests doesn't mean a full-on pesticide war. With the help of Jim Fredericks, director of technical services at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), we show you the best and least damaging ways to fight back.

2. Ticks

2. Ticks

The Destruction: Your health. The three most common are deer (or blacklegged), American dog, and lone star ticks. The deer tick gets the most attention because it's the vector of Lyme disease, a health problem particularly on the Eastern Seaboard.

The Fix: If your yard looks like a meadow, you're growing a tick habitat, Fredericks says. Ticks like hanging out in the brushy yard edges and on tall weeds, where they'll climb and wait for their next victim to brush by. Keep weeds trimmed, wear tick repellent, and do tick checks for good measure. Here are a few more anti-tick tips.